Keeping Chickens Free Range

[vpatt]

Wyatt only barks when he is having an anxiety attack, i have never heard him bark at a person or animal. Now he has only been here about a month. Grandson wants us to keep the dog until he finds a new place to live. I'm guessing that might be less than ten years...maybe.

(Anxiety is my diagnosis). He goes nuts when left alone. He is about 8 months old.

Update: fox was here again, this is crazy.

 

[lazy gardener]

Are you in a no shoot zone, or otherwise have houses or neighbors too close to you to make shooting safe? I can shoot all I want. But, I do have neighbors. So, I have to ask the predator to kindly go stand near the south west corner of the garden. Then, I have to make sure the cat is inside. Then... and only then, is it safe for me to shoot. So far, I've had 3 predators oblige me with that request.

 

[vpatt]

I'm not really skilled or comfortable at shooting.....there are cows to the north and a field to the south. But there are 6 neighbor kids who play in that field at times. To the east is another house and road...to the west 30,000 acres of woods. But we are in the woods so i dont think i would be able t o tell if there was a person hunting. I am gonna get a fence put up and hope that helps. Night is not a problem as they are locked up tight. I will still let them out at times, but it wont be the same.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

A fence will help alot, electrified would be even better.

 

[vpatt]

...

A fence will help alot, electrified would be even better.[/quote]

Yes, it may come down to that, too. I have been thinking about it.

Well,how did i get inside the quote? Lol

 

[vpatt]

Can some one help me......if i have 10 or 12 chickens what is a good size pen? I cant seem to wrap my head around the math this morning.

Fox showed up again yesterday. The 3 big chickens were in the coop. So he looked like he was thinking of jumping in the little pen with the banties. Wyatt made a better showing and tried running after him this time.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Can some one help me......if i have 10 or 12 chickens what is a good size pen? I cant seem to wrap my head around the math this morning.

Fox showed up again yesterday. The 3 big chickens were in the coop. So he looked like he was thinking of jumping in the little pen with the banties. Wyatt made a better showing and tried running after him this time.

I have heard many different numbers thrown out for bird per sq feet. I have heard as much as 10 sq ft per bird and as little as 4. But if you have the space I would go with the 10 ft

 

[islandgirl82]

Can some one help me......if i have 10 or 12 chickens what is a good size pen? I cant seem to wrap my head around the math this morning.

Fox showed up again yesterday. The 3 big chickens were in the coop. So he looked like he was thinking of jumping in the little pen with the banties. Wyatt made a better showing and tried running after him this time.

I have heard many different numbers thrown out for bird per sq feet. I have heard as much as 10 sq ft per bird and as little as 4. But if you have the space I would go with the 10 ft

I've heard the 10 and 4 sq ft as well but the 4 sq ft as interior coop space per bird and the 10 sq ft per bird as run space. @vpatt the more space you can provide for them the happier and healthier they'll be.

 

[vpatt]

OrganicFarmWife, i cant figure how many feet that would be of fence. I dont know why my brain wont do that anymore. If i have 170 feet of fence is that enough to keep ten chickens happy? I dont want them to be standing in poop. I may be able to let them free again at some time, but i dont know. I had them free ranging for 18 months with only an occasional loss and this spring the foxes have lost their minds. Thanks for your help.

 

[duluthralphie]

Vpatt When figuring how much run to make remember to give them some height if you can. Square Footage is not all equal. The more height the better IMHO. With height you can give them roosts, obstacles to climb on or under. Some people give the swings. A chicken may only have 7 brain cells, but you have to keep those 7 brains cells from being bored. A bored chicken is more likely to be a trouble maker.

I actually like my runs I have filled with junk. they may not look pretty but they keep the birds occupied on those days I need to keep them inside. People with no clue will call the junk filled ones messy, let them.